Yellow Rose testing deliciousness

Woah-the sun is out! (For the moment, I'll forget that it's only about 33 degrees outside). The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger, and suddenly, it's like a great big weight has been lifted off my chest! Suddenly, food photography is possible again, since I can cook and eat before it's dark. (Let's face it, food photos almost never look good without sunlight, right?) I feel like my blogging soul is arising from a long, depressing slumber and I can come back into the living world again. I have lots of food and recipes to share with you.

Today, I want to start with some tester recipes. Any of you who have Joanna's Yellow Rose Recipes book and love it as much as I do will be ecstatic to hear that she is at work on a second book! (Click here to visit Joanna's blog) This time around, I lucked out by being chosen as a recipe tester. Let me show you what I've made just in the past week- if these are any indication, the next few months are going to rock around my house.

First up, falafel. Yes, falafel. Those of you who remember me talking about eating tons of these in Paris will think I'm crazy when I tell you that I came home and made some more! But this recipe sounded so good, and I'd never made falafel from scratch before so I knew I'd want to give it a shot. And I'm glad I did- these are so light and flavorful, not heavy or greasy. I loved the fresh herbs in these.

Next up we have curried roasted squash soup- this soup came together in mere minutes, but the flavor is so deep and complex. Perfect for the still nippy weather we're having around here!

Next up, we have maple ginger tempeh. These blew my mind! I'm not usually a fan of tempeh bacon, but these had a perfect balance of sweet and smoky and savory- Daiku and I ate them up very quickly. They are equally good as breakfast or brunch, or in more savory creations like sandwiches or wraps.

Next up, we have a duo of chick salads- southern style with grapes (left) and curry-flavored with nuts and golden raisins (right). These were easy to make, and the flavors are so right on! Perfect as a sandwich filling, or on crackers, or just straight up as I'm eating some now. If you need a quick lunch or snack, or ever crave good old fashioned chicken salad (hold the cruelty), you will love these salads.

Here they are on marble rye toast for breakfast:

Yay for recipe testing, and yay for sunshine. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm back on the cooking and eating (and blogging!) track.

2 more happy things:

First, today is Trac's birthday! Go over there and wish her a happy one. I have been very lucky to meet someone this awesome and interesting right here in Syracuse. Happy birthday you rocking running vegan, you!

Secondly, I have some big, wonderful, fantastic, awesome news!!!!! But it's a secret. I'm dying to share with everyone, but am not at liberty yet, until it is for sure. So for now all I can say is YAY! (sorry, don't you hate when people do this?...)

Yellow Rose testing deliciousness